In a time when artists are pushing their image via every method of social media possible, there’s something to be said for a little bit of mystery. When West London supergroup Jungle first emerged in 2013, an online search for them only revealed a Facebook page and the initials of the bands founders; J & T. The plot thickened when their music videos, full of 80’s hip hop choreography and nostalgia, didn’t feature a single band member. There were no promo shots, and there’s still no sign of them on Twitter or Instagram. While some may see this as a marketing ploy, when seven mystery musicians filled the stage at Atlanta’s Terminal West this past Saturday it was refreshing.
Doors opened at 11:30 p.m., and on a night competing with hometown heroes Outkast and the electronic mega festival TomorrowWorld, I wasn’t sure what sort of turn out they’d get but I was pleasantly surprised to see a good crowd gathering.
When the lights finally dimmed and a seizure-inducing strobe light intro launched, Jungle was ready to hit the stage. From the moment they arrived, they commanded the full house and everyone in the room understood a dance party was about to kick off.
Jungle’s live set sounded as good if not better than their album, channelling old school funk and nu-disco falsetto vocal stylings with ease. The two frontmen, Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland , sang, played synth, and feverishly swapped instruments between songs.
Backlit for most of the performance, I could only make out band members from certain angles, keeping that air of visual mystery which puts Jungle’s music front and center. Their set lasted just over an hour and when their encore came to an end, the look on everyone’s face was one of wanting more.
Jungle continue their tour across North America and Europe this fall with opener’s Beaty Heart joining them on some dates. If your city is lucky enough to get a visit from them, I’d highly recommend going.
Photos by Nora Artinian
